Photo Dump Wednesday: Family time

The last week has been good. We've all spent a lot of time together as a family and I am thoroughly enjoying watching JAE and JOE interact. They play together a lot more. They get along great and they really are THE BEST! Not a day goes by that I don't look at them and say "thank you God for making me their mom."

Anyways, here they are having a picnic last week.

In preparation for going to school next year, JOE has been doing kindergarten work. She says math isn't her favorite but we have been trying to make it fun for her. She is definitely a dedicated student though.

We had a couple of good days last week. Fall is definitely here. Check out JOE riding her bike and JAE standing there so lovingly to make sure JOE is OK. #sisterlylove

Work work work!

JAE and her sleep positions. This can't be comfortable but it appears to work for her. Checked out her Minnie Mouse under her. Home girl was TIRED!

Last weekend, we took a road trip to Busch Gardens. We met up with my brother and his family and had a FABULOUS time! JOE and my youngest niece C are months apart and are best of friends. They had an absolutely awesome time!
This picture was taken when we made a bathroom stop.

Having breakfast the next morning before heading to the park. Check out my nephews on their electronic devices. Times have changed!!!

JAE and I taking selfies. We went to a IHOP and I have to say this was absolutely THE SLOWEST IHOP we've ever been to. It took FOREVER to have our orders taken and forever for the food to arrive. THEN after we left, my stomach started feeling funny and I felt like that the rest of the day. NOT fun!
However, check out my AyoBE Boutique tee. I love this tee and wear it a lot. There are a few other options on the site so go snag yours today!

JOE was upset about something during breakfast and her cousin was so sweet. He was giving her a hug and telling her it'll be OK. I love seeing them interact! It is such a blessing and joy.

So this park stroller caused a lot or ruckus! We brought our double stroller to the park. My sister in law rented one for C incase she wanted to sleep. HOWEVER, this stroller was the one ALL the girls wanted to ride in. JAE insisted on riding in the stroller and refused to let the girls push her out. There was lots of screaming and crying about this stroller. Don't let the smiles fool you, they were VERY competitive about who got to ride in there! :-)

And then my oldest baby got to enjoy her first park ride! She LOVED it!!! She is definitely a rollercoaster girl. I only went on ONE and that was the one JAE qualified for. But JOE and her cousin rode 4-5! #fearlessgirls

Here's a video of C and JOE on their first ride. 

Right before JAE went on her first ride. 

At first she was scared but once the ride started, she was all smiles. Check out my nephews in the background.

My brother and the brood! See how they all squished into that stroller? LOL!

JOE on another ride. 

This ogre was ummm...ICKY!!!

Finally! JAE was able to move everyone out of the stroller and enjoy it the rest of the day. The girls rode in the double stroller. SMH. She was all smiles the entire time cause she got to stretch out and was establishing her territory!

During lunch, we were treated to a show. The park was set up for Halloween. It was an entertaining show.

Both girls danced off the small calories they had just consumed. To be young and full of energy!

We didn't get a chance to purchase the family picture at the park so the next morning during breakfast, we snapped one of everyone. 

We had such a lovely time and it went by so fast! We're already planning our next get together! #familyiseverything

Overall, a week filled with lots of family time, love, laughter and building memories. 

Hope you're having a great week so far! Remember to always be kind to strangers!

Photo Dump Wednesday: September Hair Progress

We have been doing really well with our hair. Ever since I abandoned the whole notion of water washing only, things have significantly improved as far as my hair goes. 
I co-wash every weekend and either clay wash or use a sulfate free shampoo once a month. 

I have also been doing more co-washing with JOE and JAE. Their hair isn't overly dry so I don't feel the need to fully wash it with shampoo all the time. 
Speaking of, I recently tried the Cantu baby hair shampoo on JAE's hair and it turned out and I love it. No tangles and didn't overly dry her hair. 

I recently purchased the Mane Choice 3 in 1 leave in conditioner. I sooooo wanted to like this product since I have used the vitamins and have nothing but great things to say about it. Sadly, I can't give it raving reviews. It makes me sad because I really truly am a believer in their line but this product did not work well in my hair. For the first time, I had a product that sat on my hair. As in you could see it on my hair. I thought perhaps it would get better over the course of the day but it didn't. I tried it both when wet, damp and dry and got the same results so I won't be using it on my hair as a leave in.

Anyways, on to pictures since I know that's about 90% the reason you're reading this :-). 

First JAE. I haven't been doing too much with her hair. I am still learning her hair type and what it needs. I do use my oil mix on her scalp and leave in conditioner every week. For the most part, her hair is a lot straighter than JOE's was at this stage so doing her hair is somewhat of a breeze compared to her older sister. 

With that said, I primarily just either put her hair in a high pony tail OR clip part of it with a hair clip.

JOE's hair continues to grow and grow and grow. e still struggle with tangles all the time. I gave her a trim a few weeks ago and that was "an incident" because she was terrified that I would cut her hair. I had to show her how much I was taking off and it was just about an inch off. She needed it. She doesn't have single strand nuts which is great. However, the ends of her hair was pretty thin so I wanted to get rid of it before it started to cause more split ends.

I primarily put her hair up though because JAE loves pulling on it. 

  

 

Not a hair update but I totally couldn't resist. Check out this ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL baby model in AyoBE Boutique wear! She is just sooooo cute!!! Oh and her momma is too :-). Hey Peg!!!

Now, onto my hair. If you recall, I started my journey back in 2013. Details below.

Last texlax: 10/2013

Decision to go natural: 02/2014

Big Chop: 10/2014

Last flat iron: 12/31/2015

So far, things are going really well! I am currently have surpassed the length I was before I started the transition process. 

I am so glad I made the decision to go natural. I was VERY unsure of it when I started but honestly, it has been THE EASIEST thing for me. I don't do much and find that I like it more in its natural state. Also, I don't have to deal with scalp burns which is something I had to contend with ALL THE TIME when my hair was texlaxed :-).

The below picture was taken in early August. My hair has grown a little more since then. I am now at mid-back length when stretched at the back!!! I often stretch it just to play with it and am always shocked when I stretch it. 

A co-worker of mine actually was looking at it a couple of weeks ago and decided to stretch it. She was shocked to see how long it was. LOL...I love the shrinkage because it makes it more manageable and my hair doesn't get caught in my tops thereby causing friction/breakage.

Last year, I set the below goals for my hair:

1. My first goal will be to have healthy natural hair after postpartum shedding is done with me. Hopefully, I'll be at armpit length when stretched by the end of September. I am basing this date on the fact that my shedding often happens between 3 - 6 months postpartum. Accomplished.
2. My second goal is to grow my hair to bra strap length when stretched by the end of the year. This is where it was towards the end of my first pregnancy. Accomplished.
3. My third goal is to grow my hair to full mid-back length when stretched by the end of June 2016. I had a couple of set backs from heat damage and breakage but I reached this goal in August.    

When people say natural hair is so versatile, THIS is what they mean. I love that I can style it in many ways and it stays put :-). With the aid of pins and such :-D.

 Check out my curls in all of its glory :-). I am wearing the Capella African Print hair fascinator. Go get one. There are 3 different options to choose from :-).

 

 

I recently made more of my shea butter mix. I don't like making it often because it leaves EVERYTHING oily! Thankfully, I only make it once a year and am able to keep the excess in the fridge. 

I love this mix because it is all natural. I only use pure oils. As in oils with no additives. I use it on my hair, on my ashy knees, on my feet. I love it!

So part of my journey includes trimming my hair. I don't subscribe to trimming my hair on a regular schedule. However, I do believe that when you see signs that it is time, you get it done. 

I noticed quite a few single strand nuts in my hair around July. But I was always too busy to get this done. Finally, last week, I was able to trim my hair. 

Last week was my first trim. I like the way it turned out. Check out my photo bomber.

I love that I can do this and still retain length.

I did my second trim this past weekend to ensure I got everything. I decided to leave the twists in overnight instead of taking it apart and I am glad I did because I liked the way it turned out. 

Overall, I love this journey I am on. My new goal are:

1. Maintain my current length at  mid-back length or slightly longer.  
2. Get my hair straightened at the end of the year without heat damage. 

Do you have any hair goals? If so, how is it coming along?

To the lady who gave my kid a car...

Thank you!

We had a very early flight the day we left for vacation. Plus we were flying out of Reagan National due to a change in flight by the booking company a couple of weeks before we left. This added time to our planned commute so we had to get up earlier to drive to the airport since it was further away. 

The girls were pretty good for the most part and were excited for the trip. JOE had been asking about when we would be leaving on vacation so she was extra excited.

However, by the time we got to the airport, got through security, got breakfast and settled down for a bit, they were starting to get cranky. 

It was then I noticed a very kind woman who was behind us in line start digging into her bag. I assumed she was going to get her phone but no. She got out this little car for the girls to play with. It was just the most thoughtful act of kindness! She then told us she has 3 kids and knows how it can be traveling with kids. 

After we boarded our flight, turns out she was right behind us! JOE took the window seat right in front of her and was chatty with her. During conversations, we found out she is originally from Jordan! Go figure! JOE (first name Jordan) and her immediately clicked. J, JAE and I all fell asleep during the flight but not JOE. She spent the flight time talking to the lady and even did some drawings for her. The lady gave her a pen and paper to draw while we slept. 

These days, you hear so much about the bad in the world that it is sometimes hard to hear the whispers of the good in the world. This experience was a much more positive one than the one we encountered last year when we flew back from our vacation. Since I am a blogger, I decided to use this forum to say a HUGE THANK YOU to the lady who performed this act of kindness. While she may never read this post, I pray that it inspires others to show kindness especially when you see a family traveling with kids. It isn't easy for the parents either but when acts of kindness like these are done, you make for a much more pleasant and fun flight for everyone. 

Thanks to this lady, both girls each had a car to play with during our vacation. We had only packed one car.

PS:
We packed entertainment for both girls to use during the flight but ended up not needing it because they behaved so well. Thanks to a simple act of kindness. 

Have a fabulous day and remember to be kind to strangers!